STAMFORD -- Two city men were charged with trying to extort $50,000 from a High Ridge Road burglary victim who was growing marijuana on his property, police said.

Miguel Enamorado, 21, of 61 Woodside St., and Steven Panagatos, 24, of no known address, were charged with criminal attempt at first-degree larceny and conspiracy at first-degree larceny. Enamorado, who was additionally charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny, was held in lieu of $100,000 bond and Panagatos was held on $50,000 bond.

Sgt. Peter diSpagna said that on Nov. 2 a man filed a complaint that his High Ridge Road home had been burglarized twice and the burglars were blackmailing him because they discovered he was growing marijuana.

The man said he came home for lunch Sept. 7 and realized someone had come through a window of his home and stolen a safe containing $2,500 and a Cartier watch valued at $4,500.

Di-

Spagna said the man did not call police because he had a small marijuana crop at his house he was using for personal use.

The man came home Oct. 9 home to discover he had been burglarized again. The thieves stole an Apple laptop computer, diSpagna said. This time, the thieves left a letter demanding he leave $50,000 for them in his garage or they would give photos of marijuana plants to the police, di-

Spagna said.

The man sought advice from a private investigator, who waited for the burglars to arrive and collect their payment.

When Enamorado and Panagatos tried to enter the garage, the investigator stopped them and they fabricated a story, diSpagna said.

The investigator convinced the man to call police, explaining that the marijuana was trivial compared with the blackmail, diSpagna said.

Enamorado and Panagatos were picked up Monday, diSpagna said. DiSpagna said the two did not have any photographs of the marijuana and by the time police arrived at the house to look around, no marijuana was on the property.

After their arraignment Tuesday, the two were rescheduled to appear in court on Nov. 26 and have not made pleas in the case. Enamorado and Panagatos are being held at the Bridgeport Correctional Center.